Employment: Employer
UK Guide 2025 : London (Firms)
Band 3
Email address
[email protected]Contact number
(020) 7415 6000About
Provided by Bird & Bird
Bird & Bird's UK Employment department offers domestic and multi-national clients a comprehensive range of legal advice across the full spectrum of contentious and non-contentious employment law. The team is renowned for providing businesses with strategic solutions and leading and coordinating large cross-border projects involving both other jurisdictions and practice groups. Each member of the team is a fully-qualified employment law, dedicated to the practice group, and able to advise on all issues (contentious and non-contentious).
Key areas of advice
- Policies, practice and in-house documentation
- Terminations and disputes
- Restructuring
- Conduct and resolution of claims
- Senior-level appointments
- Equality and diversity
- Business immigration
- Outsourcing
- Employee incentives and benefits
- Trade secrets
Chambers Review
Bird & Bird houses an established practice offering high-quality employment advice to both employers and senior employees. The firm is widely recognised for its expertise in the technology sector, as well as for its work for retail and life sciences clients. It advises on both employment disputes and non-contentious matters. The team is able to draw upon the firm's global network of offices to advise on cross-border work.
Work Highlights
- Bird & Bird advised Allwyn on the employment law issues relating to its successful application to operate the UK National Lottery.
Strengths
Provided by Chambers
"The Bird & Bird team give very good and practical employment advice which is critical to ensure smooth outcomes."
"They are quick to respond and understand the heart of the matter, balancing the legal requirements and the needs of our business."
"The team was very responsive and always there for me."
"The Bird & Bird team give very good and practical employment advice which is critical to ensure smooth outcomes."
"They are quick to respond and understand the heart of the matter, balancing the legal requirements and the needs of our business."
"The team was very responsive and always there for me."
Notable Practitioners
Tim Spillane is head of the London employment team at Bird & Bird. He continues to serve as a go-to advisor for senior executives from the financial services sector. Spillane regularly handles complex contentious cases involving unfair dismissal, whistle-blowing, discrimination and breach of contract claims.
"Tim is very responsive and critically sees the bigger issues in employment-related claims. He has always provided us with very practical and commercial advice."
"For employment work, I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Tim or to use him again in future."
"Tim has always been supportive, responsive and expert in my dealings with him."
Elizabeth Lang is a partner at Bird & Bird who offers support to clients on a wide variety of employment matters. She has notable experience in dismissals and restructurings, and has particular expertise in handling trade union disputes.
"She is an absolute pleasure to work with."
"Elizabeth's approach, negotiation skills as well as her clear communication were very impressive."
"We received excellent advice from Liz."
Ian Hunter is co-head of the international employment group at Bird & Bird. He advises clients on a full range of work and is noted for his ability to advise on multi-jurisdictional matters.
"He provides an excellent supervisory service."
Jonathan Goldsworthy is a partner in the Bird & Bird employment team who assists employers and employees with both contentious and non-contentious issues.
"He is fantastic in immigration advice, very calm and helpful."
"Jonathan's commercial awareness is what makes him stand out, not just his ability to recite the law."
"Jon is incredibly professional, very responsive, knowledgeable and great at managing his clients needs."